The impact of place attachment on return migration intention: a moderated mediation study

Thuy Thu Nguyen

International Journal of Manpower, 2026, vol. 47, issue 3, 503-519

Abstract: PurposeChallenging the predominantly economic focus of return migration research, this article aims to empirically test a moderated mediation model that explores how multidimensional place attachment – individuals’ psychological bonds to their place of origin – influences students' intentions to return to their hometowns using the framework of the theory of planned behaviour (TPB).Design/methodology/approachQuantitative research was conducted through a cross-sectional survey of 440 undergraduate students at 7 universities in north of Vietnam. Structural equation modelling was used to test the theoretical model.FindingsThe research confirms that natural and personal attachments with the place of origin are significantly related to return intention. Social attachment does not directly correlate with return migration but has an indirect correlation with return intentions through two mediators (namely attitudes towards a behaviour and perceived behavioural control). TPB is a valuable model for investigating the relationship between exogenous factors, attitudes towards return, perceived behavioural control and intention to return to hometown in a developing country context. The moderator effect of gender is observed: individuals' place attachment in women is a stronger driver of rural return migration intention than in men.Practical implicationsFrom the research findings, four main recommendations have been suggested for policymakers in order to attract high-quality labour resources for the economic development of cities and rural areas: preserve social networks and emotional connections of citizens, strengthen the relationship between students and their hometown, and promote nature conservation.Originality/valueThis research contributes to the current migration studies by examining how three distinct dimensions of place attachment shape individuals' intention to return to their place of origin, and by investigating the moderation role of gender and the mediation roles of attitudes and perceived behavioural control on the direct relationships between place attachment and the return migration intentions. This approach addresses key conceptual gaps in return migration literature, particularly the overemphasis on economic factors and unidimensional conceptualization of place attachment.

Keywords: Place attachment; Graduate students; Return migration; Developing countries; Gender differences (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2026
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eme:ijmpps:ijm-05-2025-0372

DOI: 10.1108/IJM-05-2025-0372

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